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One of the Chesterfield supporters, Connor Evans, smashed a window at the pub causing almost £900 worth of damage, the court heard.

Craig Marchant-East of Lewis Street in Lincoln pleaded guilty to affray and was jailed for 12 months.

Marchant-East, who had two previous convictions for football-related violence and at the time of the incident was on a football banning order, was given a new 10-year banning order.

Robert Thornhill, 65, of Garrick Close, Lincoln; Louis McAndrew,19, of Windermere Road, Newbold, Chesterfield, and Connor Evans, 18, of Lincoln Way, North Wingfield, Chesterfield, were each given a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years, 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £425 costs.

Evans, who also admitted damaging the pub window, was given a three-year football banning order.

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Mark Watson, mitigating for Marchant-East, said he accepted full responsibility for what he did and regretted it.

He told the court: "He plans to move away from Lincoln. His attitude is that he is too old for this and he does not want to find himself in this position again."

David Stanton, for Thornhill, said: "He doesn't fully understand even now why he did it. He puts the punches in but rather than become embroiled in further violence he just goes back to the bar and resumes his position.

"He realises the jeopardy he has put himself in. He has decided that he will desist from watching football matches in future."

Leanne Summers, for McAndrew, said: "He explains his behaviour on that day as down to heavy drinking. He is ashamed."

He told the court: "I regret it. It was just a rush. I got involved because I saw my friends getting hit."

Chief Inspector Stewart Brinn said at the conclusion of the case: "I welcome the sentences issued by the court today.

"I have always maintained that football fans do not engage in violence or disorder, rather they support a team in a spirit of passion and community.

"Mindless hooligans who seek nothing other than violence and criminality with others of a similar ilk do nothing other than ruin the enjoyment of real fans and put people in fear of events which should be a celebration of sporting excellence.

"I sincerely hope that the severity of the sentences, particularly a significant custodial sentence, sends a message that football hooliganism will not be tolerated by the clubs, true supporters, police and the criminal justice system."